To The Test: The Beater Blade: No Spatula Necessary

Nov192009
Paula Deen Hoecake porcelain pan

Before we get going, I want to announce that we’re finally testing the Twitter contest waters. Follow us @BehindTheKnife and tweet:

RT BehindTheKnife: Win a Paula_Deen hoecake pan! Follow @BehindTheKnife & RT by 11/23 #contest #PaulaDeen #bacon http://bit.ly/2b4FcY

You’ll be entered to win a 11-inch Hoecake Pan made of Porcelain Enamel Cast Iron. This thing weighs a ton.

If you already follow us, then you can just retweet, early and often. ;-) The winner will be chosen via a random number generated at Random.org.

Okay, now to the business at hand.

What’s the one kitchen tool that couldn’t be pried from your cold dead hands? For me, it’s probably my KitchenAid stand mixer. This one’s my third. The first was a gift from an ex, and I sold it on eBay to excise the bad karma and promptly used the proceeds to buy another, which I then sold when I moved 1000 miles away.

I knew I’d buy another, and that it would be the next step up, a Professional stand mixer with a 6-quart bowl in sleek chrome. Several neighbors drooled when they saw it.

But the paddle attachment just didn’t line up with the sides of the bowl, and I used the rubber spatula more often than I wanted to.

Beeater Blade

I had my eye on the Beater Blade for awhile, a flat beater with ‘wings’ that automatically scrape the bowl. I set out to test both: the standard version, and the Beater Blade Pro, which is sturdier for professional use. Chip Sheen of Sous Vide iPhone fame said that several chefs at Charleston Place use the Beater Blade Pro in the kitchen and they love it.

First up, the standard Beater Blade. I used it to make a batch of Martha Stewart’s Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies, and though it squeaked a little in the beginning, the bowl was nicely scraped throughout. The rubber spatula stayed in the drawer.

I used the professional version to make ATF Gingerbread in Melissa Gray’s new book All Cakes Considered. The butter and sugar incorporated more quickly than usual, and the spatula wasn’t needed until I had to gently incorporate the chopped crystallized ginger into the batter.

I could have used a wooden spoon to fold the ginger into the batter, but I wouldn’t want the spatula to feel unloved since the Beater Blade worked so well, though I don’t think it’ll reach the point of my Pastry Pal potato masher. In fact, since Thanksgiving is next week, today a neighbor asked if he could borrow a potato masher.

My eyes grew wide as I growled, “No one will EVER borrow my potato masher again!”

Startled, he took a step back. Of course then, I had to explain.

Okay, so I admit that I have TWO tools that won’t be wrested from my cold dead grip. I have the feeling the list will only continue to grow. After all, how do you pick a favorite child?

20 comments so far…Leave yours

Janice R Nov 19 2009

I would love to win this contest

janeh Nov 19 2009

I didn’t know there was such a thing as a special hoecake pan……….but now that I know there is, I’d love to win one!!

sarah Nov 19 2009

I now follow you on Twitter and I tweeted. I’m @sjdioguardi

desire kelley Nov 19 2009

I would like to try to make the hoe cake

Shannon Baas Nov 19 2009

I would like this.

Nora Brown Nov 19 2009

Hey all – note that this is a Twitter-based (as opposed to comment-based) contest…

Mary Lou Clark Nov 20 2009

I would really love to win this.

SueP Nov 20 2009

i would like to try Hoe Cake

Joanne Schultz Nov 20 2009

i follow on twitter – js22222222 .
tweet: http://twitter.com/js22222222/status/5893437344

Thanks for the giveaway!

Jennifer B. Nov 20 2009

I have a 6 quart KitchenAid mixer, and yeah, I have that same problem with the beater no reaching the sides. Great to know there is an alternative out there.

Thanks for the informative review.

barbara wright Nov 21 2009

daily tweet: http://twitter.com/bsw529/status/5922490968

Deborah R Nov 22 2009

Sometimes I don’t want to use my mixer because the darn paddle doesn’t reach the sides…could this save me?

Tracy Pryor Nov 22 2009

I would love to win this. I’m constantly having to stop beating to scrape down the sides. This could be a big help!

Following on twitter
@cloud10277

tamra Nov 22 2009

You have some really neat stuff,

Miranda L Allen Nov 23 2009

U will not pry my blender away lol I follow and I tweeted

Erma Nov 23 2009

I could really use this.

Christine Nov 23 2009

daily tweet http://twitter.com/Tina12312/status/5975348508

barbara wright Nov 23 2009

daily tweet: http://twitter.com/bsw529/status/5983849076

Kat Emerick Nov 23 2009

I am always baking and could use some new kitchen stuff. Thanks

Rebar Dec 08 2009

Thanks for the review. I was wondering if these were worth the hefty price tag – looks like they are!

Comments are closed for this article.

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